Chapter 1: Welcome to the World

The elevator traveled up the elevator shaft and the turret choir was singing the most amazing song I've ever heard. GLaDOS was singing lyrics in the background. I'm not really sure, but I think it was Italian. I was so awestruck I didn't even realize that I'd reached a dark room until a door swung open blinding me.

As I stepped out I saw the dirt underneath my feet, wheat stalks swaying in the breeze and the sky, the wide blue sky, was stretched above me in an endless, beautiful cover. I finally made it out!

I heard banging from behind me and I spun around. The door that was attached to what looked like a small, rusted shed opened and my companion cube popped out in all its burnt glory. The door slammed shut again and I couldn't stop my smile.

A small whisper escaped my lips. "Thank you." My voice was hoarse and scratchy from disuse but I hope she heard it nonetheless.

Picking up the cube, I walked forward, never looking back, mostly because I knew she was watching me go and I didn't want her to see the tears that were leaking down my face.

That was at least three days ago and I still haven't found a single person. Alive that is. I've seen plenty of dead people, skeletons and rotting corpses, but none that were alive and breathing.

I saw plenty of other things though.

I saw that deer GLaDOS was talking about. I saw something that stuck to the ceilings and almost bit my head off. I saw the humans GLaDOS was talking about. They were dead. I saw the offspring of headless chickens and crabs running amok. I even saw them taking over dead bodies and attacking me with them.

It was a good thing GLaDOS was nice enough to store away a few supplies in the companion cube. The gun in there was really useful for killing those roof eaters even if it was the small kind. She even packed a first aid kit, some spare ammunition for the gun, food and beans, and some clothes; a tank top, a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt; a sweater, some black cargo pants, some socks and combat boots.

I will forever be grateful for the new clothes but because of the time I missed, I had no clue what had happened up here. The first few cities and towns I went to were unrecognizable. The houses were dilapidated and the buildings were caving in on themselves. Nothing looked safe.

I had to find out what happened to all the living people so I ran into the first (safe looking) library. The most recent papers were dated all the way back to 2005.

The content seemed like it came out of some sci-fi book. I couldn't believe it until I'd read it a few more times. I mean, who would? An alien attack? A 7 hour war? A portal storm? I thought I'd had the last of portals when I left Aperture. All if this was caused by Black Mesa? GLaDOS would like that. Black Mesa destroyed? GLaDOS would really like that.

I rubbed my temples as I felt a headache come on. "What the hell."

Such foul language . . . doesn't suit a pretty girl such as yourself, Ms. Chell.

I snapped my head around looking for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" I shouted into the empty library.

Let's just say I'm . . . a person requiring your . . . assistance.

There was something about his drawl and the way his voice sounded that made me feel uneasy. "What?"

The room flashed a bright white light that made me shut my eyes for a few seconds. When I opened them again, I was somehow back at Aperture. I was in the main computer room but there was something off. GLaDOS was just hanging there as a man, clad in a blue suit stood in front of her. "This . . . friend . . . of your is really quite . . . amazing." He said as he turned to face GLaDOS' huge form.

The bright light flashed again and I was in a different place. It was Old Aperture. We were standing in front of the portrait of Caroline and Cave Johnson. "To hide you, such a . . . raw source of . . . potential, for this long, is really quite astounding."

The light flashed again. This time, I had no clue where I was. It seemed to be a base of some sort. There were four people reloading guns and posed as if they were in some kind of conversation, a Greek symbol of some sort was on some part of their clothes and a bigger version was painted on the wall. The man spoke again. "No matter. As they do say, it's better . . . late then never."

He chuckled darkly as the corners of my vision began to fade. My brain felt like it would pop out of my head any minuet and the bright light flashed one more time. I saw a flash of orange, the Greek sign and I head someone saying something in the distance before I fell to the floor and blacked out.

"I've never seen this girl before. Who is she?"

"They said they just found her passed out in front of the base."

"She has no form of ID? Are you sure she isn't a combine spy?"

" . . ."

"Not sure huh? I'll keep an eye on her then."